Club News and Photos

August Newsletter

It is August. The air has changed.

Gone are coconut scented beach days, heated wiffle ball games, and the shouting of marco polo during late night swims in the pool.

Football practice has begun

The equipment crowding our kitchen is massive. It slumps over chairs and stretches across the floor like seaweed. There are girdles, pads, jerseys, and water bottles—the first line of defense against an otherwise attractive kitchen.

If you’re a new parent to the league, you’ll manage such equipment with the patience of Mother Theresa, even when you forget to secure the belt prior to washing. You’ll lovingly hand-weave it through the waist opening and help dress your boy until he appears adorably Tom Brady.

If you’re a veteran parent, you might want to remind yourself to disinfect the mouthpiece sometime before the season ends.

But… whether you saunter onto Windle Field as a first-year parent or come to practice wizened; a few things shall remain constant:

  • The concession stand will run impeccably, with a supersized grill that’s clean enough to eat off of. An enthusiastic team of volunteers will serve you beverages, snacks, and burgers.
  • The boys will bond. Be it before or during practice, football players have an endearing way of relating to each other through physical activity. Being part of a football team offers the perfect opportunity for ‘boys to be boys’ and make new friends.
  • In some capacity, you will worry about your son. It’s normal. As parents, we’re wired to protect our kids at all costs (Dads…your secret’s safe with me).
What if he gets pushed by someone twice his size? What if his coach doesn’t like him? What if he doesn’t play his favorite position? What if the other players are mean to him?

Such questions may float through your mind. Just remember that, amidst all of them, your son is learning valuable lessons about how to cope with life’s challenges.

Emotional toughness, resilience, is not developed by how easy life it is. Rather, it is rooted in difficulty. Through football, your son will learn to muster up the strength and determination to fight back when life is not fair. He will learn how to get back up after being knocked down. He will run one more yard to persevere; and take one more hit for his team. His tenacity will surprise you and, better yet, he may even surprise himself.

During game time, emotions will run high. Touchdowns will be scored, interceptions will be thrown, and mistakes will be made—all are valuable to your son’s growth. Be his biggest fan, even when he fails to execute a play, make a tackle, or complete a catch. The safer he feels to plunge in and take a shot, the more confident he will become.

When he makes a play, you’ll share in his joy. You’ll celebrate in his sheer determination to get back up, break loose of a hold, make a tackle, or score a touchdown. You’ll celebrate in his audacity to ‘win the battle’ at all costs. For some, this means glowing from within and silently cheering. For others, it means singing your praise like a hollering lunatic. Either way, you’ll be proud that your son took one for the team.

Is it all about winning? Definitely. But remember… there’s more to winning than a score.

Some things never change.


Amy LeClaire, Editor - MSPW Football & Cheer

If you have any feedback, please email Amy.